For when you’re in the middle of the hard part of your story.

Middleway is a counselling service that specialises in culturally safe trauma-informed therapy.

Sessions are offered Australia-wide, at an affordable rate, including sliding scale fees for young people, students, and anyone doing it tough.

Services

Naaz Matias-Hussain

FOUNDER & REGISTERED COUNSELLOR

Hi, I’m Naaz

I’m a PACFA-registered counsellor, amateur artist, and life-long bookworm. Before becoming a therapist, I started as a client in need of a kind of counselling that wasn’t prescriptive or diagnostic. I wanted to be seen and heard, and most importantly, I wanted to feel safe.

These are the principles I bring to my counselling practice, and the reason why Middleway exists. I wanted to create a compassionate space built on my lived experience. I know first-hand how frustrating the mental health landscape is in Australia, and recognise that the medical model of care isn’t for everyone. It certainly wasn’t for me. So, when I work with clients, I make sure to see beyond the diagnosis and disorder. I facilitate self-inquiry, uncover my clients’ values, goals, fears, and the self-authored story that may be getting in the way.

So what does this mean in practice? Well, I draw on many counselling models including ACT, narrative therapy, art therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. I facilitate co-regulation in sessions, and provide practical tips on how to work with the nervous system. I encourage creative solutions to real-life problems, and I have additional training in trauma-informed practice.

Finally, as an advocate for culturally safe counselling, I recognise and nurture the unique backgrounds of my clients. I work in-tandem with layered and complex cultural identities because, just like people, healing isn’t black and white. It’s somewhere in the middle.

Mood and anxiety

Depression
Anxiety and stress
Emotional regulation
Anger and resentment

The kinds of issues I work with

Relationships and attachment issues

Codependency
Healing attachment wounds
Navigating divorce and breakups
Uncovering and healing relationship patterns
Learning effective communication skills
Developing healthy boundaries
Healing from toxic family dynamics
Family of origin legacy

Trauma-informed therapy

Spiritual abuse
Sexual abuse
Narcissistic abuse
Childhood neglect
Recovery from intimate partner violence and abuse

Sexuality and identity

Reconciling sexuality and cultural/religious identity
Body confidence issues
Reclaiming and discovering sexual identity
Pornography dependency
Sexual shame

Like most therapists, I can work with a wide range of issues, from short-term stressors to lingering problems that don’t seem to go away.

I’ve listed some of my areas of interest, but if what you need help for isn’t listed here, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Get in touch

Services

Individual counselling

Individual counselling is more than just one-on-one therapy. To get technical for a second, I work as a person-centred counsellor. This means I place the client as the expert in their life. I aim to create an environment where my clients feel safe and supported to uncover solutions that work for them.

This will look different for everyone because everyone is different. But what remains the same is that I have a toolbox full of counselling interventions and strategies, a compassionate and non-judgemental approach, and a penchant for conjuring up metaphors that help simplify the process.

Youth counselling

I have over 10 years experience in youth mental health. I’ve worked in youth not-for-profit organisations and most recently as a school counsellor. I also bring my lived experience of being a (former) young person in mental health recovery to sessions.

I work with teenagers and young adults who are feeling what I call ‘tricky emotions’, whether that’s anxiety, loneliness, being numb, or something equally as unpleasant. I know how confusing it is to be young and struggling, so I do my best to create a space where we can make sense of it together.

Culturally-safe therapy

Communities share traditions, values, and beliefs. But our individual experiences of what this looks like are unique.

Culturally safe counselling is when a therapist steps into the value system of their clients. It means that a therapist takes responsibility to assess how their values, beliefs, and assumptions impact a client.

I’m passionate about cultural safety because I grew up in a multicultural and multi-faith home, making me what some call a ‘hyphenated person’. I don’t fit in a box, and I think that’s true for most people. I am comfortable with these complexities, and invite my clients to unpack their specific identities and experiences without the pressure to fit in.

Book appointment

Fees

Individual counselling

$120 for a 60-minute online session.

Youth counselling

$90 for a 60-minute online session.

For clients between 15 - 25 years old, and fulltime students.

Initial consultation

Free for a 15-minute intro phone call.

Cancellations

Please let me know at least 24 hours before your session if you can’t make it.

For appointments cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours, I charge a 50% cancellation fee.

FAQs

Yes. If you’re experiencing financial hardship, please let me know. I am more than happy to chat about reduced rate options and find something that works for you.
The TLDR of it is this: psychologists follow a diagnostic and medicalised model, psychotherapy is an in-depth approach aimed at longer term change, and counselling is often a shorter term, issue-based form of therapy.
I am a counsellor and psychotherapist, meaning I can work with a diagnosis, but I don’t work to find a diagnosis. I am much more concerned with seeing the bigger picture, and figuring out what it is underneath the symptoms of distress a person is experiencing.
For example, if you have anxiety, I offer options on how to regulate and reduce these symptoms, but I also go a step further and ask where this anxiety is coming from. That often involves getting into your childhood, understanding your value systems, and deconstructing beliefs and stories that may be shaping your life.
If you’re interested in reading more about the differences, this is a very handy outline.
No. In Australia you only need a referral to see a psychologist if you are seeking a Medicare rebate.
Counselling is an unregulated industry in Australia, meaning the word ‘counsellor’ isn’t protected by law. That’s why it’s important to find a counsellor who is a part of a regulatory body such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Being a member of these organisations means that a counsellor is holding themselves accountable to ethical frameworks, continued professional development, and regular supervision requirements.
(I’m PACFA-registered, just in case you were wondering.)
I don’t offer parent coaching, but I am happy to make a referral to qualified counsellors who do.
If I am working with your child and they are under 18, I understand that there is a delicate balance to maintain between collaboration and privacy. This is especially true when safety is at risk. My work as a school counsellor means I have experience working with parents to ensure they can support their child’s mental wellbeing.
If you are a parent of a young person, you won’t be left in the dark, especially if there are practical suggestions I can make. And if you are a young person under 18, your confidentiality will be respected and you will play an active role in what therapy looks like for you.
I offer a free 15 minute consultation where you can ask me any questions you have about the counselling process. This might be about your goals, my professional experience, or my general approach to therapy.
It’s an important step that I encourage all new clients to make. Effective counselling is based on the therapeutic relationship, so it’s a good idea to find out if you feel comfortable and safe working with me. If, for whatever reason, I’m not the right fit for you, I’ll do my best to refer to you to a qualified counsellor who may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Not yet! But I’m currently on the lookout for a space based in Sydney.